CONFLICT THESAURUS

WITNESSING CORRUPTION



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HELPFUL TIP:

Conflict is your story’s secret sauce, supplying tension, relationship friction, and complications to a character’s journey. It comes in a million different forms, so identify the obstacles and problems that will hit your character the hardest by using the Character Builder to uncover their primary insecurities, fears , and desires. Don’t forget to include everyday conflict scenarios that will frustrate them and keep the pressure high.
CATEGORY:
Moral dilemmas and temptations, failures and mistakes, relationship friction, duty and responsibility, power struggles

EXAMPLES:
The character witnessing someone accepting a bribe
Knowing that someone benefited from cronyism or nepotism
Witnessing an abuse of authority (police brutality, evidence being planted, etc.)
Seeing someone skim money from a business 
Watching a certain agenda being pushed via unethical means (biased media coverage, censorship, intimidation, etc.)
Learning a powerful lobby has illegally influenced government officials to pursue legislation that suits its purposes
Discovering an "impartial" company or establishment is owned by an individual or corporation with a clear agenda
Jurors being bought off, intimidated, or influenced
Seeing an obviously guilty party go free because of their wealth, position, or political connections

MINOR COMPLICATIONS:
Being told that what was seen was different than what it appeared
Not knowing who to inform about the corruption 
Being "leaned on" by people who don't want the character to go public with what they've seen
Speaking out and facing unfair reprisals, such as losing a perk or lucrative account
Being investigated by the offending party in an effort to discredit the character 
Having to be available for interviews by reporters, investigators, or detectives
Being "advised" (intimidated) by others to drop the complaint
Nosy neighbors, relatives, and co-workers giving unhelpful advice about what to do
Losing respect for the individual involved (if they were known to the character)
The corrupt party applying a guilt trip about how their life will be ruined if the character says anything
Having to change a routine to avoid the guilty party

POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS RESULTS:
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RESULTING EMOTIONS:
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POSSIBLE INTERNAL STRUGGLES:
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PEOPLE WHO COULD BE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED:
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NEGATIVE TRAITS THAT COULD MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE:
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IMPACT ON BASIC NEEDS:
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WOUNDS THIS COULD LEAD TO:
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POSITIVE TRAITS TO HELP THE CHARACTER COPE:
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POSITIVE OUTCOMES:
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